Rod Stewart has revealed he and wife Penny Lancaster secretly split up for two weeks after a blazing row.

The 68-year-old singer told Australian magazine Life that his heartbreak over the brief separation inspired one of the performances on his new album.

Rod said: "I cover Tom Waits' Picture In A Frame. Penny and I broke up for two weeks and the song is about that time.

"I asked her for a photo of herself in a frame so that I could see her when I went to bed and when I woke up.

"I have taken a lot of risks when it comes to relationships but I have never gambled or smoked - women don't like that. You have to take the good with the bad, and women prefer you when you're truthful."

Rod and Penny, 42, dated for eight years before marrying in 2007 and have two young sons.

The singer, who has been married twice before, said that the experience had taught him a lot about relationships.

He said: "My relationship rule is, 'Don't argue after a glass of wine - leave debating until the morning'. I have always loved women, won some, lost some, but it's not about the magic touch, it's about being a better person and a good listener.

"I met Penny in my 50s and if I had not learnt by that point I was never going to."